Can United overcome El Real?

It's the tie we've been waiting for for 10 years. Since that thrilling fortnight which saw Real Madrid just about triumph over Manchester United 6-5 on aggregate in that Champions League quarterfinal tie all those years ago, we've been eagerly awaiting the re-match between two of football's richest and most famous clubs.

A lot has happened in 10 years - Real Madrid still eagerly await their next European Cup win since Zinedine Zidane scored the greatest winner of all time in that final at Hampden Park in 2002, while Manchester United have gone on to make the final 3 times, losing twice against Real's great rivals, Barcelona.

However, Real Madrid remain one of football's superpowers and even more so in this age - it's a bit unfortunate that they play in the same league - and era - as the greatest club side the world has ever seen; I'm talking about Barcelona and Lionel Messi's merry men.

Here are a few stats to ponder..

Real Madrid's head to head record against Manchester United is 3 wins to 2 with 3 draws, 17 goals scored against United's 14.

Last 4 ties -
23/04/2003 - Manchester United 4 Real Madrid 3
08/04/2003 - Real Madrid 3 Manchester United 1
19/04/2000 - Manchester United 2 Real Madrid 3
04/04/2000 - Real Madrid 0 Manchester United 0

League positions
2002/03 -
Manchester United and Real Madrid won the league
- Man United were tied with Arsenal at the top of the Premier League when they played Real Madrid
- Real Madrid were leading Real Sociedad in La Liga

1999/00 -
Manchester United won the league
Real Madrid finished 5th in the league
- Man United were comfortably leading the Premier League ahead of Leeds and Arsenal
- Real Madrid were struggling behind eventual league champions, Deportivo la Coruna, Barcelona, Valencia and Real Zaragoza.

This season -
Manchester United, 1st in the league, 12 points ahead of Man City
Real Madrid, 3rd in the league, 16 points behind Barcelona and 4 behind Atletico Madrid

There are plenty of parallels between this season and the first time Real Madrid and Manchester United had met in the Champions League era back in 1999/00.

Raul and Ronaldo - Real Madrid's strikers have been United's nemesis in their last two clashes with the meringues

Manchester United is dominating the league while Real Madrid is struggling to catch up with the leaders. Real Madrid is nowhere as bad as they were back then - then manager John Toshack was actually sacked following a horrendous start to the season and replaced by current Spain manager, Vincente del Bosque who guided the Meringues to 2 Champions League titles.

However, Mourinho's men have certainly endured a disappointing league campaign thus far especially in contrast to their great rivals across the city and country. Away form has been disappointing - which may give United fans hope especially if the Red Devils get a decent result away at the Bernabeu.

Nevertheless, as always, Real Madrid are choked with talent all over the park and this time, they do have a former United favourite in Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo appears to have regained his form after a miserable start to the campaign and up against his former manager and team, he should be quite fired up to show United fans what they've been missing since 2009.

Then there's Mesut Ozil, one of the best midfielders in the world at the moment, along with ex-Liverpool hero, Xabi Alonso who would be very familiar with Manchester United, a back in-form Kaka if selected, Karim Benzema, Pepe, Coentrao, Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and of course the rock at the back if he is selected, Iker Casillas.  

Cleverley will be key to stopping Ozil's control of the midfield

But Manchester United appear to have an attack frontline to match Real's this season with Robin van Persie taking his form from the Emirates to Old Trafford. He is well backed up by now United stalwart, Wayne Rooney and the likes of Javier Hernandez, Shinji Kagawa and Tom Cleverley. Questions remain about the consistency of David de Gea at the back - last time around, inconsistency from Fabien Barthez in goal cost Manchester United dearly against Real Madrid, with (Luis) Ronaldo slotting in at Barthez's near post.

Another factor is Jose Mourinho. The Special One's record against Manchester United is quite superb; his record at Chelsea is 4 wins, 2 draws & 1 loss, and at Porto, he beat Manchester United over  two legs in a Champions League second round tie. Mourinho has got quite a good record when his team is playing an English side and with the league title pretty much out of the reckoning, Mourinho will be  quite keen to salvage the season through Europe - and quite possibly save his job.

So cue the first leg of what should be a thrilling tie. Here are a few games from the past to whet your appetite for this once-in-a-blue-moon clash.